Disney's Pop Century Resort

Disney's Pop Century Resort is the newest of the Disney Value Resorts and is located on a vast 177 acre site between Disney's Wide World of Sports and Epcot.

Rating: 2.5 stars
Rooms: 2880 rooms
Rates: from $82 to $160 Check rates

Address: 1050 Century Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Area: Wide World of Sports Resort
Nearest airport: Orlando International (MCO)
Map: Click to view

It is being developed in two phases and the first phase opened in 2003 with 2880 rooms; the second phase will be just as big and will be connected by the Generation Gap bridge which straddles the Hourglass Lake. Like all of the All-Star Resorts, the Pop Century Resort is littered with larger than life icons, this time representing 20th century pop culture from the 1950s to the 1990s (the second phase will cover the first half of the 20th century).

The 5 pairs of motel style four storey blocks span each decade from the 50s (jukeboxes, bowling pins and Lady and the Tramp) through the 60s (Play-Doh, Duncan Yo-Yo and Jungle Book), 70s (eight-track tape and Big Wheel bike), 80s (Sony Walkman, Rubiks Cube and Roger Rabbit) and 90s (laptop computer and cellphone).

Rooms/Suites

The rooms are small and fairly basic; there is no closet, just a clothes rail and a shelf in the bathroom, table and chair and a television.

Standard rooms are around 260 square feet and will sleep 4 (plus a baby in a crib). Most rooms come with either a king-size bed or two double beds.

There are two types of standard room; Standard Location and Preferred Location. With Preferred Location you are closer to the pool and guest facilities and hence have less distance to walk.

Transportation to all the theme parks, water parks and Downtown Disney is by motor coach.

Because of the shear size of the resort you can expect waits during peak seasons and at busy times of the day in both the food court and at the bus stops.

Dining

None of the Value Resorts have table service restaurants but there is a quick-service 640 seat Everything Pop Shopping and Dining Food Court serving a variety of American cuisine from four restaurant outlets plus a Grab-N-Go Market for take-out convenience meals. The Pop Century Resort also features a 7,000 square foot retail area in the Classic Hall.

The Pop Century is the only Value Resort to have a lounge, the Classic Concoctions lounge in located in the food court and is open in the evening to serve beer, cocktails, wine and appetizers. There are also two TVs.

Recreation

Unlike the All-Star Resorts which have two pools, the Pop Century Resort has three heated pools, the Bowling Pin Pool (near the 1950s buildings), the main Hippy Dippy Pool (near the 1960s buildings) and the Computer Pool (near the 1980s buildings). The Petals Pool Bar is located by the main Hippy Dippy Pool and serves poolside snacks (seasonal). There is also a childrens wading pool and playground with a Goofy water feature.

The hotel also has an amusement arcade called Fast Forward where the children can play a variety of video and pinball games in the Classic Hall close to the Food Court.

Amenities

The hotel offers a number of amenities including:

• concierge desk
• rooms and facilities for guests with disabilities
• in room pizza delivery
• free parking
• iron, ironing board and wall safe
• voice mail, dial-up internet access (charge applicable)
• refrigerator (available on request, charge applicable)
• babysitting and childcare services, Pak-n-Play Crib available
• laundry facilities/services (coin operated)
• plus a gift shop